Buzz
Leaving your phone outside the bedroom is often recommended for better sleep, but I’ve never managed to follow through. For starters, why invest in a separate alarm clock when my phone already has a reliable one that’s even more customizable? Plus, where else would I even place it?
I’m aware of the arguments: many sleep-savvy people set up charging stations in their living rooms. Basic alarm clocks are affordable—some even cost as little as two dollars at IKEA. And let’s be honest, scrolling through your phone at night isn’t really helping you relax, nor is it an effective way to wake up in the morning. I get it. Yet, I still can’t bring myself to charge it anywhere else.
Luckily, there’s a straightforward solution that sleep experts seem to have overlooked. Simply place your phone somewhere you can’t easily reach from bed.
The Benefits of Charging Your Phone Beyond Arm's Reach
Keeping your phone away from your bed serves two purposes, and neither requires you to move it to another room. (And let’s face it—not everyone has extra space. Studio apartments and hotel rooms don’t exactly offer many options.)
First, it eliminates the urge to use your phone right before bed. The screen’s light tricks your brain into thinking it’s still daytime (yes, even with night mode on), and engaging in online debates or other activities keeps your mind alert when it should be winding down.
However, if you’re set on endless scrolling, you can do that just as easily on the couch as in bed. To ensure your phone isn’t literally in bed with you, simply place the charger slightly out of reach—like on a dresser across the room.
The second reason involves your morning routine. I personally use a dedicated sunrise alarm clock that gradually brightens the room over 30 minutes before playing gentle sounds mixed with birdsong.
But that’s just the beginning. After snoozing the first alarm, my actual wake-up call goes off a few minutes later. If your phone is placed on a dresser across the room, you’ll have no choice but to get out of bed and walk over to silence it.
After rearranging our home recently, the only convenient spot to charge my phone ended up being my nightstand. I’d been struggling to wake up on time, but then it dawned on me: I could plug in my phone and place it on the floor, just beyond the nightstand. Since my arm can’t reach through solid furniture, I’m forced to get up to turn it off. And guess what? I’m back to waking up punctually.
